A petrified forest in the Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary

Many 'stones' are more than 200 million years old plant remains and among the oldest fossil forests in East Africa

[email protected] Michael Boppré 1, Ottmar W. Fischer 1, Herbert Süß 2, Ronny Rößler 3 1 Forstzoologisches Institut, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg i.Br., Germany; 2 Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt- Universität, Berlin, Germany; 3 DAStietz, Museum für Naturkunde, Chemnitz, Germany Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary Finding Primoginkgoxylon palaeontological study is required, ideally including excavations – very The Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctu- From a small sample of permine- likely such studies will lead to exci- ary is a community owned and ma- ralized wood we have identified a ting news on the evolutionary history naged ecotourism venture close to new genus with three new species of fauna and flora of the region. Kenya's South Coast that provides a of gymnosperms: Primoginkgoxylon corridor for movements of elephants crystallophorum, P. muthamii and P. Fossils in Kenya between the Mwaluganje Forest Re- shimbaense. They are from the Late serve and the Shimba Hills National Triassic (ca 220 million years old). Petrified wood is an important ele- Reserve. ment of the heritage of Kenya (cf. Prospects websites of the National Museum in Nairobi [http://www.museums.or.ke/ We can strongly sug- content/view/118/83/] and the Kenya gest that others pay Wildlife Service). Another Kenyan close attention to the petrified forest has been found in the petrified forest. For tho- Sibiloi National Park in the far North se able to take study of the country, near Lake Turkana, of the site forward, we but these fossils are 'only' about 7 offer assistance (e-mail million years old. contact: boppre@fzi. To our knowledge, the fossil wood uni-freiburg.de). Main at Mwaluganje is the oldest ever actions, coordinated found in the country, dating back and documented by more than 200 million years. They the Warden, should help to understand the history of ve- include: getation, climate and palaeoenviron- The area houses large amounts • d etailed mapping of the areas ment of the area. It is also very likely of petrified wood. This was first re- where petrified wood occurs that fossilized remains of animals ported more than a century ago but (where fossils cover the surface) will be found in the course of a more no further attention has been given • photo / video documentation detailed study, in particular because since; indeed, the original reports • collection of samples and storing the quality of the fossilization seems seem forgotten. Apparently, many them at a sheltered place to pro- to be exceptionally high. permineralized large trees have tect them from rain and sunshine Not only for scientific reasons but been removed in the past decades; to avoid further degradation also for sustainable development however, there still are plenty of • exhibit samples at the Gate and of Mwaluganje for wildlife conser- small fossils of unrecognized va- at the Lodge, accompanied with vation, as a tourist attraction, and lue. Local stones used for road informative posters. as a source of income for the local construction include parts of fossil Following basic inventorying and population, the 'petrified forest' of gymnosperm trees! protection, a thorough professional MES needs to be studied, protected and properly preserved for future generations. Reference Süß H, Rößler R, Boppré, Fischer OW (2009) Drei neue fossile Hölzer der Morphogattung Primoginkgoxylon gen. nov. aus der Trias von Kenia. (Three new fossilized woods of the mor- phogenus Primoginkgoxylon gen. nov. from the Triassic of Kenya.) Feddes Repertorium 120: 273–292 < Transparent cuts demonstrate excellent state of preservation; single cells are clearly visible and their structures and arrangement allow for identification. Scale bars: 200 µm ix/09